Allied Military Operations


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Operation Gommorah (bombing of Hamburg)


Hamburg_after_the_1943_bombing.jpg
Hamburg after bombing.


Operation Gommorah was an aerial bombing campaign on Hamburg, Germany. Not only did it leave thousands homeless, but it also made the Nazi leaders realize that if this continued in other cities, Germany could potentially be taken out of the war. From July 24 to August 3, Hamburg was continuously bombed. This caused about 10 square miles of Hamburg to be turned into rubble. Although it was a relatively small operation, the Allies considered it a success (About.com Operation Gommorah).

Operation Bodyguard

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Map of Operation Bodyguard. Map, edited by Spencer Marshall. Original map: http://www.youreuropemap.com/blank_europe_map.gif

Operation Bodyguard was a deception plan in the months leading up to the landings at Normandy. The main goals of the Allies were:

1. To make the German commanders believe that the landings would be at Pas de Calias so they would build up the fortifications there and ignore other locations,

2. To leave the enemy unsure of the date and time of the attacks on Normandy, and

3. To keep the German air and land forces at Pas de Calias for at least two weeks during the time of the landings at Normandy.

Operation Bodyguard was made up of three sub-operations:

1. Operation Fortitude was made up of two parts:

- Fortitude NORTH: Creating the idea that the Allies would be landing at Norway, and

- Fortitude SOUTH: Creating the idea that the Allies would be landing at Pas de Calias

2. Operation Zepplin: indicate the landings at Crete or Romania

The deception involved the Ghost Army, who used inflatable tanks an wooden planes to deceive the Germans, as well as attacks on German emplacements in Fortitude NORTH and Fortitude SOUTH (Enotes.com Operation Bodyguard).



By Spencer Marshall